My roots are snakes writhing through the ground, ready to stab, burn, cut, puncture, hurt, maim, slash, poison, scratch, restrict, curtail, ruin, destroy, penetrate and behead my soul.
Nowhere on my land am I safe.
They have taken it all
And kept it under their control.
They have locked away my right to breathe
And told me I must follow the book of righteousness and grief
Then cover my body with curtains to hide the snakes Beneath my feet.
They have imprisoned me in walls
Made of guns and grenades
To ‘protect me’ from rape
(So that they can rape me themselves at their convenience)
Before or after maybe signing a piece of paper
That says, ‘Nikah’ a promise to violate me and call it ‘Halal’
My roots have betrayed me over and over again
But today I will scream through the cut flesh of my neck
Because I do not care about the ‘reputation’ of snakes
And the sanctity of narcissists. Nor the image of abusers.
Today I am independent.
– “Independence Day”, in Behind The Veil.
Behind The Veil 